London boroughs do not apply one shared basement policy. The adopted plan, supplementary guidance, technical submissions and construction controls differ, so assess the address against its own council's documents rather than copying a neighbouring borough's limits. [1] [2] [3]
Kensington & Chelsea
The council adopted its current Local Plan on 24 July 2024. Its subsequent planning reporting identifies Policy CD11 as the basement policy. The separately published April 2016 Basements SPD remains a useful source of detailed guidance, but its older policy references should not be mistaken for the names of the current plan policies. [2] [4] [5]
Also check construction controls. The council's Code of Construction Practice links relevant planning conditions to a signed checklist and a Site Construction Management Plan. This is a separate exercise from demonstrating that the basement fits the site's planning constraints. [6]
Camden
Camden's published basement application guidance identifies adopted Policy A5 and requires a site-specific Basement Impact Assessment for new or extended basements. The council obtains independent technical audits through Campbell Reith. Its January 2021 basement guidance should be read with the adopted plan, rather than using an old application report as the only source. [1] [7]
Camden is examining a replacement Local Plan. Draft Policy D6 and proposed basement modifications were still part of that process when checked on 2 October 2026; they are not an adopted substitute for A5. [8] [9]
Westminster
Westminster's City Plan 2019–2040 partial review was adopted on 21 January 2026. Check that current policy framework alongside the council's supplementary guidance rather than assuming a historic basement permission remains the applicable design benchmark. [10] [11]
Its revised Code of Construction Practice applies to new sites from 1 June 2026 and existing sites from 1 September 2026. Basement projects fall within the code's scope, making construction management an important part of the approval and delivery process. [12]
Islington
Islington adopted its Local Plan on 28 September 2023. Its separately available Basement Development SPD is dated January 2016. Read the older SPD alongside the adopted plan, particularly for engineering, the effect on existing buildings and the protection of historic fabric; do not present its historic policy references as current plan codes. [3] [13]
Other boroughs
Richmond has an Article 4 direction for basement development in specified mapped areas, effective from 1 April 2018. Wandsworth publishes its own basement guidance covering the relevant approvals and construction considerations. These examples illustrate why an address-based check matters even outside the boroughs most associated with basement schemes. [14] [15]
Compare the same questions
For each property, record the permitted footprint and depth under the applicable policy, treatment of gardens and lightwells, flood constraints, required engineering reports and construction-plan conditions. Then identify any Article 4 or heritage restriction affecting the route. These are comparison headings, not a London-wide set of permissions. [7] [16]
Finally, distinguish a published draft from an adopted policy. The new London Plan is also under consultation, so its proposals need their own status and should not silently replace adopted requirements. [17]